Collapsible mousetrap



Aug. 25, 1931. s. NAKAGAwA COLLAPSIBLE MOUSETRAP Filed Nov. 24, 1928 INVENToR. S. /vnKAG/wn,

- Patentied Aug. 25, 1931 UNITED STATE-s .Nya

sncocn NAKAGAWA, or sAN Josnl, CALIFORNIA i ooLLArsIBLE Movsn'rnnr Application le November 24, 19223. Serial No; 321,577.

This invention relates to mouse trapsand has for its purpose the provision of an efiicacious trap that` can be co-llapsed into small compass.

One of the objects of thisinvention is to provide a sturdy mouse trap that may be collapsed for packing or storing.

Another object is to produce a trap whereby the imprisoned rodents may be quicklT and easily drowned and with a comparatively small amount of water.

Bri-efly stated,lthe invention may be said to reside in the provision of a mouse trap that isV collapsible and reducible in size.

Having set forth some of the objects of my invention a inore particular' description may be had by referring to the drawings in i which:

Fig. 1 is a Vertical cross section of my apparatus in an extended or working condition. Fig. 2 is an elevation, when collapsed.

Fig. 3 is a top plan. A As shown in Fig. 1 the trap or imprisoni. can is composed of a lower section gener-a ly designated 1, and an upper telescoping section designated 2 in its entirety. The top of section 2 is closed by a cover 3 which is provided with an elongated opening 4, said openingbeing stopped short of one side to provide a shelf 5 suitable for bait. Surrounding the ,opening on three sides is an upstanding fiange 6 which is open on the end away from the shelf 5 and Which also encloses the shelf 5. This fiange is provided to prevent the rodent from jumping out when he feels himself slipping. Positioned below and entirely 'closing the opening 4 is a counter-balanced trap door 7 which is pivotally mounted as shown at 8 and counterbalanced as at 9. v

The animal enters the trap up the inclined runway 10, which is detachably hooked in place as shown at 11, and which is substantially a continuation of the opening 4. Upon arriving at the top, it must cross over Iclaim: a,

the trap door to get at the bait on the shelf 5, and in so doing operates the mechanism V which opens and slides him down into the imv 'v prisoning chamber. The door returns to its' normal position and is ready for the next Vic- ;250,

tim without the bait having been disturbedf" Pivotally mounted on the upper section 2 as shownat 12 are links 13 which carry pins 14V at their ends.` These pins are adapted to be swung into holes 15 and 16 provided in the upper section, and when hole 15 or '16 i is brought to coincide with hole 17 in the lower section, an effective means of locking the two sectionstogether is provided.

After an animal has been trapped, theieo runway 10 is lifted off and the pins 14 are withdrawn. This allows the upper section 2 to slide down over the lower section 1 and shortens the trap to the size shown in Fig. 2. The trap may then be set in a pan of wateryo or water may be poured into it and the rodent'm drowned. f

In the manner shown, the device may be used as a shortened trap. In this case the pins 14 are thrown upw'ard and inserted inFfZO holes 16 which are then brought to coincide''T` with holes 17 anda locked position is again efected. v

The foregoing description applies to vone enbcdiment of my idea. Since there are,. 5 modifications and refinements Which lare ap-l i plicable to my device Without departing from the purview of the appended claims, I reserve this right.

1. A mouse trapicomprisingan imprison-w ing chamber composed of two telescoping sections, means forl locking said sections together in an extended and a shortened position, said neans consisting of pins insertedf5 in coinciding holes provided in each section, a trap door at the top of the upper section, and a runway leading to said trap door, and a shelf for bait on the side of the trap door farthest from the runway. :GEPO

2. A mouse trap comprising an imprisoning chamber composed of two telescopng sections, means for locking said sections together in an upper and a lower position, said means consisting of pins carried by links which are pivotally connected to the upper section and coinciding holes provided in each section into which the pins are adapted to be inserted, a shelf for bait at the top of said upper section, a runway leading to the top o said upper section, and a trap door interposed between said shelf and runway.

SHOICHI NAKAGAWA. 

